Hilltop Newsletter August 25th, 2017

It is with great pleasure that I welcome new families and welcome back old friends as the new Development Director at Hilltop Montessori. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing success of Hilltop. As a parent of a student that completed the three year Children's House cycle and is currently entering his second year in Lower El, I want to share my love for Hilltop. The importance of a Montessori education while cultivating the Development program for the future is a position that excites and energizes me.

I am fortunate to have this opportunity to work with everyone and I look forward to seeing you all on campus.

Warm Regards,

Roselle Garro

Family Picnic

Hilltop Family Potluck Picnic, 5-7pm

Green Mountain Camp for Girls

Bring a dish to share, we will have the grill going!

Our first social event of the year, the annual Family Picnic, is quickly approaching! The date is Friday, September 1st. from 5-7 at the Green Mountain Camp for Girls again this year. The kiddos will be able to swim in the pool (lifeguard provided). Jay and friends will play, and of course, we will have a B.B.Q!! What a wonderful time for families to connect, meet new friends and share a meal. It will be great fun. We are looking forward to seeing you all.

In the spirit of participation, we ask each family to provide a potluck dish to contribute to the meal.

Here is the breakdown, by classroom and type of dish:

CH/Toddler Program: Desserts

Elementary Program (UE & LE): Salad or side dish

Middle School: Drinks (no soft drinks please)

Board of Directors: Hot Dogs, Tofu Dogs, Hamburgers & Veggie Burgers

Click here to sign up! There is additional information & You can simply add in your potluck dish here as well:)

Thanks everyone! We are excited to see you.

Back to School Dates

Monday, August 28th

8:30am-Noon: Sixth Year Students Hike Black Mountain

9:00am-4:00pm: Parent/Teacher Conferences for parents who have students moving up to Lower El, Upper El, and Middle School

9:00am-10:00am: Visiting opportunity for new students and their parents (Toddler Program, Children's House and Lower El)

10:00am-11:00am: Visiting opportunity for returning students and their parents (Toddler Program and Children's House)

Tuesday, August 29th

No Before Care for any student and no After Care for new students

Orientation Schedule for Toddler Program (August 29th, 30th and 31st)

New Students , 8:30-10am

Returning Students, 10:15-scheduled dismissal time (11:30am, 2:45pm, 4:00 or 5:00pm)

Orientation Schedule for Children's House Program (August 29th, 30th and 31st)

New Students (ages 3 and 4), 8:30-10am

Returning Students, 10:15-scheduled dismissal time (11:45, 3:00, 4:00, or 5:00pm)

Full Regular Day of School for Lower El, Upper El, and Middle School

8:30am until scheduled dismissal time (3:00, 4:00, or 5:00pm)

Friday, September 1st

No Before Care for any student and no After Care for new students

Toddler Program and Children's House First Full Day of School

New Students, 8:30-3pm

Returning Students, 8:30-scheduled dismissal time (11:30/11:45, 3:00, 4:00 or 5:00pm)

The Aftercare Team!

Left to right: Emy Blohm, Maddy Johnson, Marco Yunga Tacuri, Jessica Thomas and Mariam Diallo

Emy Blohm

Emy joins the Hilltop community fresh out of college. Hailing from Upstate New York, she holds a BA in literature and visual arts from Bennington College. Prior to Hilltop, Emy worked as an assistant children's librarian and as a classroom assistant at a progressive elementary school in southern Vermont. Emy is excited to bring her creativity to the classroom. In her free time, she can be found painting, reading, writing, baking, and climbing Mount Monadnock.

Maddy Johnson

Maddy grew up in Bar Harbor, Maine. Her whole life she has been interested in alternative education that supports individual development, often leaping off the beaten track as a young student to pursue community-based studies. Maddy graduated from Bennington College in 2015 with a BA in Liberal Arts. While at Bennington, she initiated outreach to local schools to empower children and teens to understand moving image, and to use it to express their experience. After graduating, Maddy spent her time studying painting technique and meditation at a Buddhist monastery in upstate New York, as well as designing and maintaining gardens during the summers. She is excited to be back in Vermont, especially within such a vibrant and dedicated community of learners.

Jessica Thomas

J essica Thomas has returned to Hilltop! Jessica, originally from England, worked as the Lower Elementary teacher at Hilltop for over 25 years after getting her Lower Elementary Montessori certification. Both of her children are Hilltop alum, and she has two toddler grandchildren. She returned to us this summer to help with the SummerFun Toddler Program. She is now excited to continue helping the toddlers in the afternoons and working with the Elementary group afterschool! She will be spending lots of time outside in addition to doing art and science projects after school.

Important Reminders

Directory Corrections!

Please be sure to email Rebecca at the front desk if you notice that the information in the directory that was sent to you over the Summer is not up to date and correct.

Back to School Envelopes

The back to school envelopes will be in the front lobby for parents to pick up on the first day of school.

Please find a moment of peace to carefully read through the envelope. In addition to pertinent information regarding the school year, there are also important forms that need to be returned by the end of the first week of school. Included in the packet you will find the following:

After School Programs, click here for descriptions

Consent for Dismissal Form*

Information to update your child's immunization, if needed*

Medication Form*

Information regarding volunteer drivers*

Sunscreen & Insect Repellant Consent Form*

Pizza Sign Up* (bagel sign up to come)

Development package with volunteer request form*

Student and Family Handbook

Parent Information Series

*Denotes items that need to be returned to the front desk

Please let Rebecca, Hilltop's Administrative Coordinator know if you should have any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your diligence!

Work Party Photos

Eclipse Photos

Hilltop Helpers

House for Sale

Tucked into the woods overlooking a meadow, yet in the heart of Putney village, this passive solar, timber frame, straw bale home is an energy-efficient dream. Building materials were selected for their low environmental impact while a few hand-picked items were re-purposed from a historic home, adding character to the organic feel of the house. An open floor plan and first floor bedroom allow for easy living and light-filled rooms, especially in the winter. The first floor bathroom features handmade Trikeenan tile and spacious shower with a luxuriously-sized separate tub. Two additional rooms upstairs plus a half-bath and built-in reading nook under an east-facing window add to the comfort of the home. The one-bedroom apartment on the ground floor has the same passive solar design as the first floor and can be used as a rental, an in-law apartment, home office, or additional living space . Radiant heat, a soapstone wood stove, and Pella windows combine to keep utility bills extremely low. There is a fenced-in vegetable garden with established asparagus patch in the lower yard with fruit trees (peach, apple, plum) and blueberry and raspberry bushes in the upper yard. The roughly half acre property is mostly fenced in and abuts a beautiful meadow to the east, conserved as green space. Trails in the woods lead to a gorgeous ravine and leads to Sacketts Brook. A timber frame carport provides cover from snow and rain for two cars and there is also a shed for outdoor storage. Walking distance to all amenities and shops within Putney Village. For sale by owner - it won't last long! $389,000

Open House: Saturday, September 9, 11:00-2:00

email rochellegarfinkel@gmail.com for more info

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